Your fundraising has an incredible impact - North Devon Hospice

Jenny Allen, Hospice to Home team member at North Devon Hospice, explains why building great relationships with patients and families is such a special part of her job and only possible thanks to you.

As a Multi-skilled Healthcare Assistant at North Devon Hospice, I have the very privileged job of caring for people facing cancer and other life-limiting illnesses in the comfort of their home as they reach the end of their life. While this job is special for so many reasons, one of the most enjoyable parts for me is building great relationships with both the patients and families we look after.

Looking back, one of my many fond memories of working in the Hospice to Home Team is when I cared for an elderly lady who was bed bound in her final days. Originally from Birmingham, she had moved down to Devon 30 years prior to our meeting – I too had moved down from Birmingham seven years earlier, so we instantly had a great deal in common.

When her condition began to deteriorate, this lady had moved into a hospital bed in her lounge, which was upstairs. This is often the case for lots of end-of-life patients we see as the living area is such a focal part of the home, where they can get involved in the hustle and bustle while remaining comfortable.

Every time I went to visit this lady, I would ring the doorbell and her daughter later told me that her mother would shout out, 'Is that my Jenny?'. As soon as I walked into the room, it was 'Oh yes, it is my Jenny' followed by the biggest smile. Her whole face would light up – such a pleasure to see.

After I had given her the care she needed, we would talk for ages. Sometimes, it was about her illness, other times about just normal everyday life. Whatever the topic, she had a wicked sense of humour, and although she knew she was dying, we would spend so much time laughing – sometimes crying with laughter!

My visits with her were incredibly special in that not only did I enjoy going to see her, but I knew the feeling was reciprocated and that she wanted to spend time in my company.

The memories I have of her are undoubtedly some of my best and ones that I will cherish not just while I’m here at the hospice but for the rest of my life. Forming relationships like this that bring little moments of joy to people in their darkest times is magical and something that only comes with having a job like mine.

On behalf of this very special lady and all the other patients and families you make it possible to create memories with, thank you.